spriiiiiiiing.

anxiously anticipating spring.

a lovely tea party with mix matched chairs.

and balloons.

sounds really lovely right about now.

how many people can fit in a pick-up?

 we counted 20.

last sunday, after the dance, we made our way over the shannon's house. and, boy, it proved to be another fun day! when we got there, we were greeted with the wonderful smell of brunch. oh my, but it was lovely!

after which we had a small church service (along with the singing of beautiful old hymns...and we didn't sound half bad!).

that afternoon TWENTY of us piled into a pickup and set out for a long ride in the country, shooting at wild hogs and playing guessing games (someone would play a song from a movie and we'd all have to guess which movie it was from).

once we arrived at the "river" we jumped out and went tromping through the mud. 

not only did i ruin a 3rd pair of black flats (the last two were also ruined with the shannons), but my nylons too. ah well, it was definitely worth it! i should learn from experience to always wear tall boots and jeans (instead of a dress and flats) when i go to visit the shannons :) 

while there little stockton found a giant crawdad and shockingly morgan (the scared-y cat) picked it up!

a big thank you, again, to the shannons for hosting this fun adventure! i know we ALL thoroughly enjoyed it. lovely. lovely. lovely. lovely.

p.s. what do you think of the new blog layout??

anne of green gables...the musical?

i don't know if you've ever heard of it...i hadn't until recently...but i found a youtube video with clips from a professional theatre's version of "anne of green gables: the musical"

oh. my. goodness. i got goosebumps! it looks like SUCH a fun show! 

the best part...? a local (40 minutes away) theatre is putting it on this summer and auditions are in may! guess who's going to audition? yes. that would be me. 

i am SO thrilled...but very nervous :/ 

i've never auditioned for a community theatre. ever. just homeschool groups. 

oy! 

just thinking about it...months in advance...gives me butterflies! 

but i like to rewatch this video over and over and i get inspired and convinced that i CAN audition! 

and WILL!

what do you think of it? isn't it so cute?! :D

rockstar etsy seller - kirby

i'm excited to announce the next "rockstar etsy seller" interview with: kirby! i just LOVED reading her answers to my questions! a degree obtained in scotland, a cat named oliver twist, and homeschool graduate! she's my kind of girl. welcome to sewing in the past, kirby! :)

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m an artist, vintage clothing dealer, and freelance costume designer living in Atlanta, Georgia. I was born here, but have lived everywhere in between. I hold an undergraduate degree in Art History and a Master’s degree in Museum Studies, both of which I obtained in Scotland. I’ve been married for two years to my husband, who is also involved in the arts, and have three rescue kitties named Klaus, Amelie, and Ollie (short for Oliver Twist).

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am heavily involved in dance, so that takes up most of my time when I’m not creating. But dance is a form of creating, too, I suppose. When I really think about it, creating is an all-consuming process, so except for mundane tasks like doing the laundry, washing dishes, and feeding the cats, I don’t do a lot that doesn’t involve creating in some form.

What first made you want to become an artist/crafter/seamstress?
I was homeschooled, which I feel really nurtured my creativity. Growing up we were always involved in something creative. We were always encouraged to take up new activities and learn new things, and if there was something I really wanted to do, such as take art classes or dance lessons, my parents always somehow scraped together the money for me to do. I’m really grateful to my parents for that.

Please describe your creative process.
Right now a lot of my inspiration is coming from 19th century literature. I also have a wonderful collection of rather dog-eared books pertaining to the both art history and the history of clothing, so whenever I am feeling the need to be inspired, I will pull them out and look at them. It helps to jump start my creative process. When I am ready to create a piece (or two or ten…), I will tend to lock myself away in my art studio and not come out until I’m finished. I don’t like to take breaks when I’m on a roll!

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
My late grandmother, who was also an artist, made a beautiful cross-stitched Christmas stocking for me before I was even born. I’m grown up now, but I still hang it up on my mantle every December!

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Keep your shop as full as possible, and just keep trying to get your work out there where it is through relisting, facebook, or blogging about it. It takes time to establish yourself as a new artist, but you can do it. Also, know who you are as an artist. It’s important to keep an eye on trends , but don’t be such a slave to trends that you lose your own uniqueness.

How do you promote your work?
This is an area I’m still working on! I relist items a fair bit, but I also promote through word of mouth. I also always keep business cards with me!

In ten years, where would you like to be?
Since my husband and I are both involved in the arts, it is our ultimate goal to have a brick and mortar art space. Making a living doing what we love is our ultimate goal.

danced the night away.

saturday me, morgie, and maddy hopped in the car (with my family) to drive to a dance in turkey, texas. we picked up a few extra people along the way, too. we had a fun time playing word games, watching movies, and just laughing in the car! we got to our "hotel" in turkey (there were only 3 rooms...and we occupied them all). we may have entered as modern folk, but we exited in the 40s/50s style.

a quick trip to an old gym (really old but the perfect style for the dance), and then...we danced the night away. thanks to the awesome shannons for putting the dance together!

that night...after 6 hours of continuous dancing (SO sore), we made it back to the "hotel" and played some epic games of catchphrase, foosball, ping-pong, and air hockey until 3 in the morning. (part 2 later)

glasses...and a road trip.

my friends! how are you? i just got back from an AMAZING event. and i can't wait to tell you about it...tomorrow! for now, you will have to be satisfied with this picture of our road-trip "clan" 

aaaaand my new glasses which finally arrived! 

(how do you like them?)

can't wait to share pictures and stories about last night and this morning!!

until tomorrow.

p.s. how was your weekend? did you do anything special?

favorite spring '11 looks.

i've been seeing some LOVELY spring '11 looks that i'm super excited about! not that i'll ever be able to get any, mind you, but i love checking out the styling!

i've been seeing a lot of muted colors, pattern mixing, long socks with boots or wedges, natural hair, hats/fedoras, and, most importantly, vintage inspired looks! :D

j. crew

TBA

orla kiely

212

twentysevennames

Lauren Moffat

p.s. some of these outfits are shorter or lower than my "personal standard" of dressing. but i'm in love with styling and fabric choices, which is my purpose of sharing.

p.p.s my driver's license came in the mail the other day. oh the horror!

rockstar etsy seller - yardia

i'm so excited to continue our "rockstar etsy seller" interviews today! one of my favorite etsy sellers, yardia,  has agreed to answer some questions (huzzah!). i loved reading her answers and i'm sure you will too! AND a lot of her products are inspired by jane austen! so perfect. 

please welcome brigida (and be sure to visit her lovely store)!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Brigida and I'm the creator of Yardia. I'm a native of Seattle and find so much joy in this odd rain-soaked city. As an artist, I'm inspired my favorite writers, particularly Jane Austen. I also love patterns and textiles, but since I am hopeless at sewing, I draw images of dresses instead.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I teach art at an all-girls middle school, which I must say has to be the best job in the world. I also cook lots of soup, read books from my neighborhood library, and drink too much tea and coffee.

What first made you want to become an artist/crafter/seamstress?

I've always drawn and painted, so it was never really a conscious decision I made. I just assumed art would somehow be a part of my life, and it has been.

Please describe your creative process.

I generally work with walnut ink and one of those old-fashioned metal-tipped calligraphy pens. I spend hours hunched over my paper, carefully drawing lines and patterns to make my drawings look like wrinkled or flowing dresses.

Recently I've been trying to work with color more, and have been painting with watercolors and itty bitty brushes.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

I love my hand-thrown pottery dishes that were made by my mom, a ceramic artist, and the small study of a perfume bottle with a pearl necklace made by my grandma, a painter. They are both reminders of the creativity present in the women of my family, something I strive to continue.


What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?

Focus on your art first. Challenge yourself to trust your creative instincts instead of trying to fit into your idea of what others want. When you are passionate about what you make, your art will be a deeper and more truthful representation of your creativity.

Then, work on your photography. Goodness knows I am always struggling to improve my product photographs!

How do you promote your work?

When I first started out on Etsy, I was lucky enough to be featured on a well-known blog which helped my sales to take off. Since then my work has been included in other blogs and online magazines from time to time, which is fun to see. I also have a daily drawing blog to document my current work.(yardia.blogspot.com)

In ten years, where would you like to be?

I would like to be right here in Seattle, living in a small house with a big garden. I'd also like to continue to grow my business and to explore further artistic endeavors. I'd love to become a more educated printmaker and see my designs on fabric items or wallpaper.

love makes the world go 'round.

my dearest friends! yay! it's valentines day! hey uhm...would you like to do me a favor and vote for this picture in a modcloth contest? i would love you FOREVER! yes? good?! huzzah! http://bit.ly/gtCn2o

anyways. this morning i was reading my bible (i've been reading through 1 corinthians the past few days) and today i just happened to read 1 corinthians 13! in case you don't know, it's the "love chapter"...oh the irony. so i thought i'd share it with you, since not only is it valentines day, but is also one of my favorite chapters in the bible!

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

wow. what a great promise towards the end! we only see a glimpse of God's great creation because we are fallen, but one day...we shall see it in all it's entirety and beauty. and i, personally, cannot wait!

happy valentines day my friends! :)

photo credit to my good friend maddy.

of valentine card making

yesterday was spent in the company of some wonderful friends! we took the whole afternoon to make some lovely valentines day cards! i only ended up with 3...but they all turned out uber cute!! :) and we made the biggest mess towards the end...but it was possibly the prettiest, pinkest, paintiest mess i've ever seen! i love being crafty with friends.